Indolinone compounds and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

Indolinone derivative compounds that act as EWS-FLI1 transcription factor inhibitors are provided. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions of the indolinone derivatives, methods of synthesizing the same, methods of treating using same, and assays for identifying the inhibitors of EWS-FLI1 oncoprotein.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Any and all priority claims identified in the Application Data Sheet, or any correction thereto, are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/877,708, filed on Oct. 7, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/062,086, filed Oct. 9, 2014. Each of the aforementioned applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, and each is hereby expressly made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Field

Indolinone derivative compounds that act as EWS-FLI1 transcription factor inhibitors are provided. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions of the indolinone derivatives, methods of synthesizing the same, methods of treating using same, and assays for identifying the inhibitors of EWS-FLI1 oncoprotein.

Description

The EWS-FLI transcription factor present in vast variety of Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) was characterized over ten years ago. Progress in the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma the second most common bone tumor in children and adolescents, has improved survival for patients with localized tumors. However, patients with metastases still fare badly and the therapy carries short and long-term toxicities. The Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) is characterized by a chromosomal translocation that generates EWS-FLI1, on oncogenic fusion transcription factor whose continued expression is believed to be critical for ESFT cell survival (Balamuth, N J, Womer, R B., Lancet Oncology 11, 184-192 (2010)).

In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that the inhibition of the binding of the oncoprotein, EWS-FLI1, to RNA Helicase A (RHA) leads to a decrease in proliferation of ESFT cell lines and a decrease of tumor volume. EWS-FLI1 lacks enzymatic activity, however, the protein-protein interaction between RNA helicase A (RHA) and EWS-FLI1-modulates oncogenesis, and is therefore required for the maintenance of the tumor growth (Hyariye N Erkizan et al. Nature Medicine 15(7) 750-756 (2009)). The paradigm of disrupting key protein interactions may have utility in treatment of diseases including sarcomas with similar translocations, and leukemias with MLL translocations ((Helman L J, Meltzer P. Mechanisms of sarcoma development. Nat Rev Cancer 2003; 3(9):685-94); and Pui C H, et al., N Engl J Med 2004; 350(15):1535-48). Moreover, disordered proteins may be excellent therapeutic targets based on their intrinsic biochemical properties (Cheng Y, LeGall T, Oldfield C J, et al., Trends Biotechnol 2006; 24(10):435-42).

SUMMARY

Despite years of in vitro and xenograft studies with antisense and siRNA directed towards EWS-FLI1, none of these is heretofore practical as a human therapy based on inadequate delivery and stability. Accordingly, there is a need for improved therapies to treat disorders such as ESFTs.

FLI-1 is a member of the ETS family transcription factors which are normally active in the developing embryo, but not after birth. There are 29 members of this family of transcription factors, four of which, FLI-1, ETV1, ETV4 and ERG, have been associated with a wide range of cancers.

Therapeutic compounds targeting the inhibition of the binding of oncogenic fusion proteins of FLI1, ETV1, ETV4 or ERG or the transcription factors themselves will have utility in treatment of cancers including the Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and several other cancers. The preferred embodiments fulfill these needs, and provide other advantages as well.

Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a compound of Formula (I) including forms such as stereoisomers, free forms, pharmaceutically acceptable salts or esters thereof, solvates, or combinations of such forms, wherein A, D, R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, and R₁₂ are as defined herein.

Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods for treating cancer in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of one or more compounds of Formula (I) including forms such as stereoisomers, free forms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a pharmaceutical composition that includes one or more compounds of Formula (I) including forms such as stereoisomers, free forms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Other embodiments described herein relate to using one or more compounds of Formula (I) including forms such as stereoisomers, free forms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for treatment of cancer.

Still other embodiments described herein relate to a compound of Formula (I) including forms such as stereoisomers, free forms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for treatment of cancer wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of Ewing's sarcoma, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, head & neck cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and uterine cancer. These and other embodiments are described in greater detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description and examples illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention in detail. Those of skill in the art will recognize that there are numerous variations and modifications of this invention that are encompassed by its scope. Accordingly, the description of a preferred embodiment should not be deemed to limit the scope of the present invention

Chromosomal translocations generating oncogenic transcription factors are the hallmark of a variety of tumors, including many sarcomas. Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs) are characterized by the t(11;22)(q24;q12) translocation that generates the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 and Friend leukemia virus integration 1 (EWS-FLI1) fusion transcription factor responsible for the highly malignant phenotype of this tumor. Continued expression of EWS-FLI1 is believed to be critical for ESFT cell survival. EWS-FLI1 is an attractive treatment target for Ewing sarcoma because of its malignant cell specificity. Furthermore, experimental evidence indicates that EWS/FLI expression is essential for Ewing sarcoma tumor cells. In vitro targeting of EWS-FLI1 with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and RNA interference (RNAi) inhibits Ewing sarcoma cell viability, growth, and oncogenic transformation, supporting EWS-FLI1 attenuation as a potential treatment modality. The therapeutic agents of the preferred embodiments have broad applicability to a larger group of tumors, and are useful as therapeutics for treatment for other oncogenic transcription factor related malignancies such as chemotherapy-resistant sarcomas and leukemias and difficult to treat tumors such as Ewing's sarcoma.

Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. All patents, applications, published applications and other publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety unless stated otherwise. In the event that there is a plurality of definitions for a term herein, those in this section prevail unless stated otherwise.

As used herein, any “R” group(s) such as, without limitation, R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, and R₁₂ represent substituents that can be attached to the indicated atom. An R group may be substituted or unsubstituted. If two “R” groups are described as being “taken together” the R groups and the atoms they are attached to can form a cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl or heterocycle. For example, without limitation, if R^(a) and R^(b) of an NR^(a)R^(b) group are indicated to be “taken together,” it means that they are covalently bonded to one another to form a ring:

In addition, if two “R” groups are described as being “taken together” with the atom(s) to which they are attached to form a ring as an alternative, the R groups may not be limited to the variables or substituents defined previously.

As used herein, “alkyl” refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain that comprises a fully saturated (no double or triple bonds) hydrocarbon group. The alkyl group may have 1 to 20 carbon atoms (whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “1 to 20” refers to each integer in the given range; e.g., “1 to 20 carbon atoms” means that the alkyl group may consist of 1 carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, etc., up to and including 20 carbon atoms, although the present definition also covers the occurrence of the term “alkyl” where no numerical range is designated). The alkyl group may also be a medium size alkyl having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. The alkyl group could also be a lower alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The alkyl group of the compounds may be designated as “C₁-C₆ alkyl” or similar designations. By way of example only, “C₁-C₆ alkyl” indicates that there are one to six carbon atoms in the alkyl chain, i.e., the alkyl chain is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, and t-butyl, pentyl (straight and branched) and hexyl (straight and branched). Typical alkyl groups include, but are in no way limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, tertiary butyl, pentyl (straight and branched) and hexyl (straight and branched). The alkyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted.

As used herein, “cycloalkyl” refers to a completely saturated (no double or triple bonds) mono- or multi-cyclic hydrocarbon ring system. When composed of two or more rings, the rings may be joined together in a fused fashion. Cycloalkyl groups can contain 3 to 10 atoms in the ring(s) or 3 to 8 atoms in the ring(s). A cycloalkyl group may be unsubstituted or substituted. Typical cycloalkyl groups include, but are in no way limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl.

As used herein, “aryl” refers to a carbocyclic (all carbon) mono-cyclic or multi-cyclic aromatic ring system (including fused ring systems where two carbocyclic rings share a chemical bond) that has a fully delocalized pi-electron system throughout all the rings. The number of carbon atoms in an aryl group can vary. For example, the aryl group can be a C₆-C₁₄ aryl group, a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group, or a C₆ aryl group. Examples of aryl groups include, but are not limited to, benzene, naphthalene and azulene. An aryl group may be substituted or unsubstituted.

As used herein, “heteroaryl” refers to a mono-cyclic or multi-cyclic aromatic ring system (a ring system with fully delocalized pi-electron system) that contain(s) one or more heteroatoms (for example, 1 to 5 heteroatoms), that is, an element other than carbon, including but not limited to, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. The number of atoms in the ring(s) of a heteroaryl group can vary. For example, the heteroaryl group can contain 4 to 14 atoms in the ring(s), 5 to 10 atoms in the ring(s) or 5 to 6 atoms in the ring(s). Furthermore, the term “heteroaryl” includes fused ring systems where two rings, such as at least one aryl ring and at least one heteroaryl ring, or at least two heteroaryl rings, share at least one chemical bond. Examples of heteroaryl rings include, but are not limited to, furan, furazan, thiophene, benzothiophene, phthalazine, pyrrole, oxazole, benzoxazole, 1,2,3-oxadiazole, 1,2,4-oxadiazole, thiazole, 1,2,3-thiadiazole, 1,2,4-thiadiazole, benzothiazole, imidazole, benzimidazole, indole, indazole, pyrazole, benzopyrazole, isoxazole, benzoisoxazole, isothiazole, triazole, benzotriazole, thiadiazole, tetrazole, pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, purine, pteridine, quinoline, isoquinoline, quinazoline, quinoxaline, cinnoline and triazine. A heteroaryl group may be substituted or unsubstituted.

As used herein, heterocycloalkyl refers to three-, four-, five-, six-, seven-, eight-, nine-, ten-, up to 18-membered mono-cyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic ring system wherein carbon atoms together with from 1 to 5 heteroatoms constitute said ring system. A heterocycle may optionally contain one or more unsaturated bonds situated in such a way, however, that a fully delocalized pi-electron system does not occur throughout all the rings. The heteroatom(s) is an element other than carbon including, but not limited to, oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen. A heterocycle may further contain one or more carbonyl or thiocarbonyl functionalities, so as to make the definition include oxo-systems and thio-systems such as lactams, lactones, cyclic imides, cyclic thioimides and cyclic carbamates. When composed of two or more rings, the rings may be joined together in a fused fashion. Additionally, any nitrogens in a heterocycloalky may be quaternized. Heterocycloalkyl groups may be unsubstituted or substituted. Examples of such heterocycloalkyl groups include but are not limited to, 1,3-dioxin, 1,3-dioxane, 1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dioxolane, 1,3-dioxolane, 1,4-dioxolane, 1,3-oxathiane, 1,4-oxathiin, 1,3-oxathiolane, 1,3-dithiole, 1,3-dithiolane, 1,4-oxathiane, tetrahydro-1,4-thiazine, 2H-1,2-oxazine, maleimide, succinimide, barbituric acid, thiobarbituric acid, dioxopiperazine, hydantoin, dihydrouracil, trioxane, hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine, imidazoline, imidazolidine, isoxazoline, isoxazolidine, oxazoline, oxazolidine, oxazolidinone, thiazoline, thiazolidine, morpholine, oxirane, piperidine N-Oxide, piperidine, piperazine, pyrrolidine, pyrrolidone, pyrrolidione, 4-piperidone, pyrazoline, pyrazolidine, 2-oxopyrrolidine, tetrahydropyran, 4H-pyran, tetrahydrothiopyran, thiamorpholine, thiamorpholine sulfoxide, thiamorpholine sulfone, and their benzo-fused analogs (e.g., benzimidazolidinone, tetrahydroquinoline and 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl).

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to a salt of a compound that does not cause significant irritation to an organism to which it is administered and does not abrogate the biological activity and properties of the compound. In some embodiments, the salt is an acid addition salt of the compound. Pharmaceutical salts can be obtained by reacting a compound with inorganic acids such as hydrohalic acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid), sulfuric acid, nitric acid and phosphoric acid. Pharmaceutical salts can also be obtained by reacting a compound with an organic acid such as aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic or sulfonic acids, for example formic, acetic, succinic, lactic, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, nicotinic, methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, p-toluensulfonic, salicylic or naphthalenesulfonic acid. Pharmaceutical salts can also be obtained by reacting a compound with a base to form a salt such as an ammonium salt, an alkali metal salt, such as a sodium or a potassium salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, such as a calcium or a magnesium salt, a salt of organic bases such as dicyclohexylamine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamine, C₁-C₇ alkylamine, cyclohexylamine, triethanolamine, ethylenediamine, and salts with amino acids such as arginine and lysine.

It is understood that, in any compound described herein having one or more chiral centers, if an absolute stereochemistry is not expressly indicated, then each center may independently be of R-configuration or S-configuration or a mixture thereof. Thus, the compounds provided herein may be enantiomerically pure, enantiomerically enriched, racemic mixture, diastereomerically pure, diastereomerically enriched, or a stereoisomeric mixture. In addition it is understood that, in any compound described herein having one or more double bond(s) generating geometrical isomers that can be defined as E or Z, each double bond may independently be E or Z a mixture thereof.

It is to be understood that where compounds disclosed herein have unfilled valencies, then the valencies are to be filled with hydrogens or isotopes thereof, e.g., hydrogen-1 (protium) and hydrogen-2 (deuterium).

It is understood that the compounds described herein can be labeled isotopically. Substitution with isotopes such as deuterium may afford certain therapeutic advantages resulting from greater metabolic stability, such as, for example, increased in vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements. Each chemical element as represented in a compound structure may include any isotope of said element. For example, in a compound structure a hydrogen atom may be explicitly disclosed or understood to be present in the compound. At any position of the compound that a hydrogen atom may be present, the hydrogen atom can be any isotope of hydrogen, including but not limited to hydrogen-1 (protium) and hydrogen-2 (deuterium). Thus, reference herein to a compound encompasses all potential isotopic forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

It is understood that the methods and combinations described herein include crystalline forms (also known as polymorphs, which include the different crystal packing arrangements of the same elemental composition of a compound), amorphous phases, salts, solvates, and hydrates. In some embodiments, the compounds described herein exist in solvated forms with pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water, ethanol, or the like. In other embodiments, the compounds described herein exist in unsolvated form. Solvates contain either stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric amounts of a solvent, and may be formed during the process of crystallization with pharmaceutically acceptable solvents such as water, ethanol, or the like. Hydrates are formed when the solvent is water, or alcoholates are formed when the solvent is alcohol. In addition, the compounds provided herein can exist in unsolvated as well as solvated forms. In general, the solvated forms are considered equivalent to the unsolvated forms for the purposes of the compounds and methods provided herein.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that the upper and lower limit, and each intervening value between the upper and lower limit of the range is encompassed within the embodiments.

Compounds

In a first aspect a compound is provided having Formula (I):

or a stereoisomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or solvate thereof, wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, —CN and —CF₃; wherein A is selected from the group consisting of H and C₁₋₆ alkyl; wherein D is selected from the group consisting of —OH and —O(C₁₋₆ alkyl); wherein R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, and C₁₋₆ alkyl, or wherein R₅ and R₆ taken together form a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl ring; wherein R₁₂ is independently selected from the group consisting of C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl and

wherein R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₁ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, CN, CF₃, C₁₋₆ alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, —O(aryl), —O(heteroaryl), —CO₂H, —CO₂(C₁₋₆ alkyl), —NHSO₂(C₁₋₆ alkyl), —NHSO₂(aryl), —NHCONH(C₁₋₆ alkyl), —NHCON(C₁₋₆ alkyl)₂, —N(C₁₋₆ alkyl)CONH₂, —N(C₁₋₆ alkyl)CONH(C₁₋₆ alkyl), —N(C₁₋₆ alkyl)C₁₋₆ alkyl)₂, —SO₂ (C₁₋₆ alkyl), —SO₂NH₂, —SO₂NH(C₁₋₆ alkyl), —SO₂N(C₁₋₆ alkyl)₂, C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl, and C₃₋₈ heterocycloalkyl.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and Cl.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, R₅ and R₆ taken together form a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl ring.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, A is H.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, D is OH.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, A is H and D is OH.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, R₉ is selected from the group consisting of aziridinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, and morpholinyl.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, R₉ is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl and cyclopropyl.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, a compound having a structure of Formula (Ia):

or a stereoisomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or solvate thereof, wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and Cl; wherein R₇, R₈, R₁₀ and R₁₁ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and halogen; and wherein R₉ is independently selected from the group consisting C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl and C₃₋₈ heterocycloalkyl.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, R₁ and R₄ are Cl and R₂ and R₃ are H.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the compound of Formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of:

or a stereoisomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the compound selected from the group consisting of:

or a stereoisomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, or solvate thereof.

In a second aspect, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of any embodiment of the first aspect or any embodiment thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is provided.

In a third aspect, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of any embodiment of the first aspect or any embodiment thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient is provided.

In a fourth aspect, a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound of any embodiment of the first aspect or any embodiment thereof and at least one additional pharmaceutically active agent.

In a fifth aspect, a method for treating cancer is provided comprising administering an effective amount of the compound of the first aspect or any embodiment thereof to a subject in need thereof.

In an embodiment of the fifth aspect, the subject is mammalian.

In an embodiment of the fifth aspect, the subject is human.

In an embodiment of the fifth aspect, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of Ewing's sarcoma, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, head & neck cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer.

In a sixth aspect, a method of killing or inhibiting the growth of a neoplastic cell is provided, comprising contacting the cell with an effective amount of the compound of the first aspect or any embodiment thereof.

In an embodiment of the sixth aspect, the cell is mammalian.

In an embodiment of the sixth aspect, the cell is human.

In an embodiment of the sixth aspect, the cell is in vitro.

In an embodiment of the sixth aspect, the cell is in vivo.

In an embodiment of the sixth aspect, the cell is a cancer cell, the cancer being selected from the group consisting of Ewing's sarcoma, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, head & neck cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer.

In a seventh aspect, a method for inhibiting proliferation of a cell, wherein the cell overexpresses an ETS gene or comprises an ETS fusion gene, comprising contacting the cell with an effective amount of the compound of the first aspect or any embodiment thereof.

In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the ETS gene or the ETS fusion gene is selected from the group consisting of FLI1, ERG, ETV1, and ETV4.

In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the cell is mammalian.

In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the cell is human.

In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the cell is in vitro.

In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the cell is in vivo.

In an embodiment of the seventh aspect, the cell is a cancer cell, the cancer being selected from the group consisting of Ewing's sarcoma, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, head & neck cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer.

Synthetic Methods

Compounds of Formula (I) described herein may be prepared in various ways. General synthetic routes to compounds of Formula (I) are shown and described herein. The routes shown and described herein are illustrative only and are not intended, nor are they to be construed, to limit the scope of the claims in any manner whatsoever. Those skilled in the art will be able to recognize modifications of the disclosed syntheses and to devise alternate routes based on the disclosures herein; all such modifications and alternate routes are within the scope of the claims.

Depending upon the substituents present, the small molecule inhibitors can be in a form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. The terms “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” as used herein are broad terms, and is to be given its ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art (and is not to be limited to a special or customized meaning), and refers without limitation to salts prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable, non-toxic acids or bases. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts include metallic salts, e.g., salts of aluminum, zinc, alkali metal salts such as lithium, sodium, and potassium salts, alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium and magnesium salts; organic salts, e.g., salts of lysine, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, meglumine (N-methylglucamine), procaine, and tris; salts of free acids and bases; inorganic salts, e.g., sulfate, hydrochloride, and hydrobromide; and other salts which are currently in widespread pharmaceutical use and are listed in sources well known to those of skill in the art, such as, for example, The Merck Index. Any suitable constituent can be selected to make a salt of the therapeutic agents discussed herein, provided that it is non-toxic and does not substantially interfere with the desired activity.

The compounds of preferred embodiments can include isomers, racemates, optical isomers, enantiomers, diastereomers, tautomers, and cis/trans conformers. All such isomeric forms are included within preferred embodiments, including mixtures thereof. As discussed above, the compounds of preferred embodiments may have chiral centers, for example, they may contain asymmetric carbon atoms and may thus exist in the form of enantiomers or diastereoisomers and mixtures thereof, e.g., racemates. Asymmetric carbon atom(s) can be present in the (R)- or (S)-configuration, or can be present as mixtures of the (R)- and (S)-forms. The following are isomeric forms of the compounds of Formula (I):

The compounds can be in amorphous form, or in crystalline forms. The crystalline forms of the compounds of preferred embodiments can exist as polymorphs, which are included in preferred embodiments. In addition, some of the compounds of preferred embodiments may also form solvates with water or other organic solvents. Such solvates are similarly included within the scope of the preferred embodiments.

Certain Pharmaceutical Compositions

It is generally preferred to administer the inhibitors of preferred embodiments in an intravenous or subcutaneous unit dosage form; however, other routes of administration are also contemplated. Contemplated routes of administration include but are not limited to oral, parenteral, intravenous, and subcutaneous. The inhibitors of preferred embodiments can be formulated into liquid preparations for, e.g., oral administration. Suitable forms include suspensions, syrups, elixirs, and the like. Particularly preferred unit dosage forms for oral administration include tablets and capsules. Unit dosage forms configured for administration once a day are particularly preferred; however, in certain embodiments it can be desirable to configure the unit dosage form for administration twice a day, or more.

The pharmaceutical compositions of preferred embodiments are preferably isotonic with the blood or other body fluid of the recipient. The isotonicity of the compositions can be attained using sodium tartrate, propylene glycol or other inorganic or organic solutes. Sodium chloride is particularly preferred. Buffering agents can be employed, such as acetic acid and salts, citric acid and salts, boric acid and salts, and phosphoric acid and salts. Parenteral vehicles include sodium chloride solution, Ringer's dextrose, dextrose and sodium chloride, lactated Ringer's or fixed oils. Intravenous vehicles include fluid and nutrient replenishers, electrolyte replenishers (such as those based on Ringer's dextrose), and the like.

Viscosity of the pharmaceutical compositions can be maintained at the selected level using a pharmaceutically acceptable thickening agent. Methylcellulose is preferred because it is readily and economically available and is easy to work with. Other suitable thickening agents include, for example, xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carbomer, and the like. The preferred concentration of the thickener will depend upon the thickening agent selected. An amount is preferably used that will achieve the selected viscosity. Viscous compositions are normally prepared from solutions by the addition of such thickening agents.

A pharmaceutically acceptable preservative can be employed to increase the shelf life of the pharmaceutical compositions. Benzyl alcohol can be suitable, although a variety of preservatives including, for example, parabens, thimerosal, chlorobutanol, or benzalkonium chloride can also be employed. A suitable concentration of the preservative is typically from about 0.02% to about 2% based on the total weight of the composition, although larger or smaller amounts can be desirable depending upon the agent selected. Reducing agents, as described above, can be advantageously used to maintain good shelf life of the formulation.

The inhibitors of preferred embodiments can be in admixture with a suitable carrier, diluent, or excipient such as sterile water, physiological saline, glucose, or the like, and can contain auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering agents, gelling or viscosity enhancing additives, preservatives, flavoring agents, colors, and the like, depending upon the route of administration and the preparation desired. See, e.g., “Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy”, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 20th edition (Jun. 1, 2003) and “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences,” Mack Pub. Co.; 18^(th) and 19^(th) editions (December 1985, and June 1990, respectively). Such preparations can include complexing agents, metal ions, polymeric compounds such as polyacetic acid, polyglycolic acid, hydrogels, dextran, and the like, liposomes, microemulsions, micelles, unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles, erythrocyte ghosts or spheroblasts. Suitable lipids for liposomal formulation include, without limitation, monoglycerides, diglycerides, sulfatides, lysolecithin, phospholipids, saponin, bile acids, and the like. The presence of such additional components can influence the physical state, solubility, stability, rate of in vivo release, and rate of in vivo clearance, and are thus chosen according to the intended application, such that the characteristics of the carrier are tailored to the selected route of administration.

For oral administration, the pharmaceutical compositions can be provided as a tablet, aqueous or oil suspension, dispersible powder or granule, emulsion, hard or soft capsule, syrup or elixir. Compositions intended for oral use can be prepared according to any method known in the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and can include one or more of the following agents: sweeteners, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preservatives. Aqueous suspensions can contain the active ingredient in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions.

Formulations for oral use can also be provided as hard gelatin capsules, wherein the active ingredient(s) are mixed with an inert solid diluent, such as calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules. In soft capsules, the inhibitors can be dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids, such as water or an oil medium, such as peanut oil, olive oil, fatty oils, liquid paraffin, or liquid polyethylene glycols. Stabilizers and microspheres formulated for oral administration can also be used. Capsules can include push-fit capsules made of gelatin, as well as soft, sealed capsules made of gelatin and a plasticizer, such as glycerol or sorbitol. The push-fit capsules can contain the active ingredient in admixture with fillers such as lactose, binders such as starches, and/or lubricants such as talc or magnesium stearate and, optionally, stabilizers.

Tablets can be uncoated or coated by known methods to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period of time. For example, a time delay material such as glyceryl monostearate can be used. When administered in solid form, such as tablet form, the solid form typically comprises from about 0.001 wt. % or less to about 50 wt. % or more of active ingredient(s), preferably from about 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, or 1 wt. % to about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or 45 wt. %.

Tablets can contain the active ingredients in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients including inert materials. For example, a tablet can be prepared by compression or molding, optionally, with one or more additional ingredients. Compressed tablets can be prepared by compressing in a suitable machine the active ingredients in a free-flowing form such as powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, surface active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets can be made by molding, in a suitable machine, a mixture of the powdered inhibitor moistened with an inert liquid diluent.

Preferably, each tablet or capsule contains from about 1 mg or less to about 1,000 mg or more of an inhibitor of the preferred embodiments, more preferably from about 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 mg to about 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, or 900 mg. Most preferably, tablets or capsules are provided in a range of dosages to permit divided dosages to be administered. A dosage appropriate to the patient and the number of doses to be administered daily can thus be conveniently selected. In certain embodiments it can be preferred to incorporate two or more of the therapeutic agents to be administered into a single tablet or other dosage form (e.g., in a combination therapy); however, in other embodiments it can be preferred to provide the therapeutic agents in separate dosage forms.

Suitable inert materials include diluents, such as carbohydrates, mannitol, lactose, anhydrous lactose, cellulose, sucrose, modified dextrans, starch, and the like, or inorganic salts such as calcium triphosphate, calcium phosphate, sodium phosphate, calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and sodium chloride. Disintegrants or granulating agents can be included in the formulation, for example, starches such as corn starch, alginic acid, sodium starch glycolate, Amberlite, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, ultramylopectin, sodium alginate, gelatin, orange peel, acid carboxymethyl cellulose, natural sponge and bentonite, insoluble cationic exchange resins, powdered gums such as agar, karaya or tragacanth, or alginic acid or salts thereof.

Binders can be used to form a hard tablet. Binders include materials from natural products such as acacia, tragacanth, starch and gelatin, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, and the like.

Lubricants, such as stearic acid or magnesium or calcium salts thereof, polytetrafluoroethylene, liquid paraffin, vegetable oils and waxes, sodium lauryl sulfate, magnesium lauryl sulfate, polyethylene glycol, starch, talc, pyrogenic silica, hydrated silicoaluminate, and the like, can be included in tablet formulations.

Surfactants can also be employed, for example, anionic detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate and dioctyl sodium sulfonate, cationic such as benzalkonium chloride or benzethonium chloride, or nonionic detergents such as polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, glycerol monostearate, polysorbates, sucrose fatty acid ester, methyl cellulose, or carboxymethyl cellulose.

Controlled release formulations can be employed wherein the amifostine or analog(s) thereof is incorporated into an inert matrix that permits release by either diffusion or leaching mechanisms. Slowly degenerating matrices can also be incorporated into the formulation. Other delivery systems can include timed release, delayed release, or sustained release delivery systems.

Coatings can be used, for example, nonenteric materials such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methylhydroxy-ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose, sodium carboxy-methyl cellulose, providone and the polyethylene glycols, or enteric materials such as phthalic acid esters. Dyestuffs or pigments can be added for identification or to characterize different combinations of inhibitor doses

When administered orally in liquid form, a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, oils of animal or plant origin such as peanut oil, mineral oil, soybean oil, or sesame oil, or synthetic oils can be added to the active ingredient(s). Physiological saline solution, dextrose, or other saccharide solution, or glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or polyethylene glycol are also suitable liquid carriers. The pharmaceutical compositions can also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The oily phase can be a vegetable oil, such as olive or arachis oil, a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin, or a mixture thereof. Suitable emulsifying agents include naturally-occurring gums such as gum acacia and gum tragacanth, naturally occurring phosphatides, such as soybean lecithin, esters or partial esters derived from fatty acids and hexitol anhydrides, such as sorbitan mono-oleate, and condensation products of these partial esters with ethylene oxide, such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate. The emulsions can also contain sweetening and flavoring agents.

Pulmonary delivery can also be employed. The compound is delivered to the lungs while inhaling and traverses across the lung epithelial lining to the blood stream. A wide range of mechanical devices designed for pulmonary delivery of therapeutic products can be employed, including but not limited to nebulizers, metered dose inhalers, and powder inhalers, all of which are familiar to those skilled in the art. These devices employ formulations suitable for the dispensing of compound. Typically, each formulation is specific to the type of device employed and can involve the use of an appropriate propellant material, in addition to diluents, adjuvants, and/or carriers useful in therapy.

The compound and/or other optional active ingredients are advantageously prepared for pulmonary delivery in particulate form with an average particle size of from 0.1 μm or less to 10 μm or more, more preferably from about 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 μm to about 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, or 9.5 μm. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for pulmonary delivery of inhibitor include carbohydrates such as trehalose, mannitol, xylitol, sucrose, lactose, and sorbitol. Other ingredients for use in formulations can include DPPC, DOPE, DSPC, and DOPC. Natural or synthetic surfactants can be used, including polyethylene glycol and dextrans, such as cyclodextran. Bile salts and other related enhancers, as well as cellulose and cellulose derivatives, and amino acids can also be used. Liposomes, microcapsules, microspheres, inclusion complexes, and other types of carriers can also be employed.

Pharmaceutical formulations suitable for use with a nebulizer, either jet or ultrasonic, typically comprise the inhibitor dissolved or suspended in water at a concentration of about 0.01 or less to 100 mg or more of inhibitor per mL of solution, preferably from about 0.1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 mg to about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90 mg per mL of solution. The formulation can also include a buffer and a simple sugar (e.g., for protein stabilization and regulation of osmotic pressure). The nebulizer formulation can also contain a surfactant, to reduce or prevent surface induced aggregation of the inhibitor caused by atomization of the solution in forming the aerosol.

Formulations for use with a metered-dose inhaler device generally comprise a finely divided powder containing the active ingredients suspended in a propellant with the aid of a surfactant. The propellant can include conventional propellants, such as chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and hydrocarbons. Preferred propellants include trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethanol, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, and combinations thereof. Suitable surfactants include sorbitan trioleate, soya lecithin, and oleic acid.

Formulations for dispensing from a powder inhaler device typically comprise a finely divided dry powder containing inhibitor, optionally including a bulking agent, such as lactose, sorbitol, sucrose, mannitol, trehalose, or xylitol in an amount that facilitates dispersal of the powder from the device, typically from about 1 wt. % or less to 99 wt. % or more of the formulation, preferably from about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 wt. % to about 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90 wt. % of the formulation.

When a compound of the preferred embodiments is administered by intravenous, parenteral, or other injection, it is preferably in the form of a pyrogen-free, parenterally acceptable aqueous solution or oleaginous suspension. Suspensions can be formulated according to methods well known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The preparation of acceptable aqueous solutions with suitable pH, isotonicity, stability, and the like, is within the skill in the art. A preferred pharmaceutical composition for injection preferably contains an isotonic vehicle such as 1,3-butanediol, water, isotonic sodium chloride solution, Ringer's solution, dextrose solution, dextrose and sodium chloride solution, lactated Ringer's solution, or other vehicles as are known in the art. In addition, sterile fixed oils can be employed conventionally as a solvent or suspending medium. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil can be employed including synthetic mono or diglycerides. In addition, fatty acids such as oleic acid can likewise be used in the formation of injectable preparations. The pharmaceutical compositions can also contain stabilizers, preservatives, buffers, antioxidants, or other additives known to those of skill in the art.

The duration of the injection can be adjusted depending upon various factors, and can comprise a single injection administered over the course of a few seconds or less, to 0.5, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, or 24 hours or more of continuous intravenous administration.

The compounds of the preferred embodiments can additionally employ adjunct components conventionally found in pharmaceutical compositions in their art-established fashion and at their art-established levels. Thus, for example, the compositions can contain additional compatible pharmaceutically active materials for combination therapy (such as supplementary antimicrobials, antipruritics, astringents, local anesthetics, anti-inflammatory agents, reducing agents, chemotherapeutics and the like), or can contain materials useful in physically formulating various dosage forms of the preferred embodiments, such as excipients, dyes, thickening agents, stabilizers, preservatives or antioxidants. Anti-cancer agents that can be used in combination with the compounds of preferred embodiments include, but are not limited to, vinca alkaloids such as vinblastine and vincristine; anthracyclines such as doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin; anthracenes such as bisantrene and mitoxantrone; epipodophyllo-toxins such as etoposide and teniposide; and other anticancer drugs such as actinomyocin D, mithomycin C, mitramycin, methotrexate, docetaxel, etoposide (VP-16), paclitaxel, docetaxel, and adriamycin); and immunosuppressants (e.g., cyclosporine A, tacrolimus). In some embodiments, the compounds, compositions and methods provided herein may be in combination with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDAC), aurora kinase inhibitors, demethylating agents (such as 5-AZA cytidine), immunotherapy with natural killer cells, IGF-IR antibodies, Ewing antigen antibodies, immunosuppressive drugs, and hydroxyurea. Examples of histone deacetylase inhibitors include vorinostat, romidepsin, panobinostat, valproic acid, belinostat, mocetinostat, givinostat, and trichostatin A. Examples of aurora kinase inhibitors include ZM447439, hesperadin, and VX-680. Examples of demethylating agents include 5-azacytidine, 5-azadeoxycytidine, and procaine. Examples of immunosuppressive drugs include 6-mercaptopurine, and azathioprine.

Certain Kits

The compounds of the preferred embodiments can be provided to an administering physician or other health care professional in the form of a kit. The kit is a package which houses a container which contains the compounds in a suitable pharmaceutical composition, and instructions for administering the pharmaceutical composition to a subject. The kit can optionally also contain one or more additional therapeutic agents, e.g., chemotherapeutics currently employed for treating the sarcomas described herein. For example, a kit containing one or more compositions comprising compounds of the preferred embodiments in combination with one or more additional chemotherapeutic agents can be provided, or separate pharmaceutical compositions containing an inhibitor of the preferred embodiments and additional therapeutic agents can be provided. The kit can also contain separate doses of a compound of the preferred embodiments for serial or sequential administration. The kit can optionally contain one or more diagnostic tools and instructions for use. The kit can contain suitable delivery devices, e.g., syringes, and the like, along with instructions for administering the inhibitor(s) and any other therapeutic agent. The kit can optionally contain instructions for storage, reconstitution (if applicable), and administration of any or all therapeutic agents included. The kits can include a plurality of containers reflecting the number of administrations to be given to a subject.

Methods of Use

Some embodiments provided herein relate to methods of treating the Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT). ESFT contains the unique fusion protein EWS-FLI1. ESFT affects patients between the ages of 3 and 40 years, with most cases occurring in the second decade. Although the embryologic cell type from which ESFT are derived is unknown, the tumor often grows in close proximity to bone, but can occur as a soft-tissue mass. Over 40% of patients who present with localized tumors will develop recurrent disease and the majority of these will die from ESFT, while 75-80% of patients who present with metastatic ESFT will die within 5 years despite high-dose chemotherapy (Grier H E, Krailo M D, Tarbell N J, et al. Addition of ifosfamide and etoposide to standard chemotherapy for Ewing's sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor of bone. N Engl J Med 2003; 348(8):694-701). These survival rates have not improved for the past 20 years, even after dose-intensifying chemotherapy. To improve survival and reduce therapy-related morbidity, novel targeted strategies for treating ESFT patients, as provided in the preferred embodiments, can be employed.

ESFT are characterized by a translocation, occurring in 95% of tumors, between the central exons of the EWS gene (Ewing Sarcoma) located on chromosome 22 to the central exons of an ets family gene; either FLI1 (Friend Leukemia Insertion) located on chromosome 11, t(11;22), or ERG located on chromosome 21, t(21;22). The EWS-FLI1 fusion transcript encodes a 55 kDa protein (electrophoretic motility of approximately 68 kD) with two primary domains. The EWS domain is a potent transcriptional activator, while the FLI1 domain contains a highly conserved ets DNA binding domain (May W A, Lessnick S L, Braun B S, et al. The Ewing's sarcoma EWS/FLI-1 fusion gene encodes a more potent transcriptional activator and is a more powerful transforming gene than FLI-1. Mol Cell Biol 1993; 13(12):7393-8); the resulting EWS-FLI1 fusion protein acts as an aberrant transcription factor. EWS-FLI1 transformation of mouse fibroblasts requires both the EWS and FLI1 functional domains to be intact (May W A, Gishizky M L, Lessnick S L, et al. Ewing sarcoma 11;22 translocation produces a chimeric transcription factor that requires the DNA-binding domain encoded by FLI1 for transformation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1993; 90(12):5752-6).

EWS-FLI1 is an outstanding therapeutic target, in that it is expressed only in tumor cells and is required to maintain the growth of ESFT cell lines. Reduced expression levels of EWS-FLI1 using either antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) (Toretsky J A, Connell Y, Neckers L, Bhat N K. Inhibition of EWS-FLI-1 fusion protein with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. J Neurooncol 1997; 31(1-2):9-16; Tanaka K, Iwakuma T, Harimaya K, Sato H, Iwamoto Y. EWS-Fli1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibits proliferation of human Ewing's sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor cells. J Clin Invest 1997; 99(2):239-47) or small interfering RNAs (siRNA) (Ouchida M, Ohno T, Fujimura Y, Rao V N, Reddy E S. Loss of tumorigenicity of Ewing's sarcoma cells expressing antisense RNA to EWS-fusion transcripts. Oncogene 1995; 11(6):1049-54; Maksimenko A, Malvy C, Lambert G, et al. Oligonucleotides targeted against a junction oncogene are made efficient by nanotechnologies. Pharm Res 2003; 20(10):1565-7; Kovar H, Aryee D N, Jug G, et al. EWS/FLI-1 antagonists induce growth inhibition of Ewing tumor cells in vitro. Cell Growth Differ 1996; 7(4):429-37) cause decreased proliferation of ESFT cell lines and regression of tumors in nude mice. Recent advances in nanotechnology have improved the delivery and controlled release of siRNA, yet neither antisense ODN nor siRNA reduction of EWS-FLI1 in humans is possible with current technologies (Maksimenko A, Malvy C, Lambert G, et al. Oligonucleotides targeted against a junction oncogene are made efficient by nanotechnologies. Pharm Res 2003; 20(10):1565-7; Lambert G, Bertrand J R, Fattal E, et al. EWS FLI-1 antisense nanocapsules inhibits Ewing sarcoma-related tumor in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2000; 279(2):401-6). One interesting approach to EWS-FLI1 targeting used comparative expression between siRNA reduced EWS-FLI1 and a library of small molecules, which led to a clinical trial with Ara-C(Stegmaier K, Wong J S, Ross K N, et al. Signature-based small molecule screening identifies cytosine arabinoside as an EWS/FLI modulator in Ewing sarcoma. PLoS medicine 2007; 4(4):e122). This method of identifying Ara-C also indicated doxorubicin and puromycin would reduce EWS-FLI1 levels. Doxorubicin is currently used as standard therapy for ESFT patients and yet, survival is far from acceptable (Grier H E, Krailo M D, Tarbell N J, et al. Addition of ifosfamide and etoposide to standard chemotherapy for Ewing's sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumor of bone. N Engl J Med 2003; 348(8):694-701). The use of Ara-C in ESFT patients is currently being evaluated in a Phase II trial. While it is hoped that this represents a needed clinical breakthrough, it certainly demonstrates the importance of small molecule targeting of EWS-FLI1. The preferred embodiments provide small molecule protein-protein interaction inhibitors (SMPPII) that disrupt EWS-FLI1 from critical protein partners, thereby achieving tumor specificity and more precise targeting of EWS-FLI1.

EWS-FLI1 is a great therapeutic target since it is only expressed in tumor cells; however, the ability to target this tumor-specific oncogene has previously not been successful. One of the challenges towards small molecule development is that EWS-FLI1 lacks any known enzymatic domains, and enzyme domains have been thought to be critical for targeted therapeutics. In addition, EWS-FLI1 is a disordered protein, indicating that it does not exhibit a rigid structure that can be used for structure based drug design (Uren A, Tcherkasskaya O, Toretsky J A. Recombinant EWS-FLI1 oncoprotein activates transcription. Biochemistry 2004; 43(42):13579-89). In fact, the disordered nature of EWS-FLI1 is critical for its transcriptional regulation (Ng K P, Potikyan G, Savene R O, Denny C T, Uversky V N, Lee K A. Multiple aromatic side chains within a disordered structure are critical for transcription and transforming activity of EWS family oncoproteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2007; 104(2):479-84). Disordered proteins are considered as more attractive targets for small molecule protein-protein interaction inhibitors specifically because of their biochemical disordered properties (Cheng Y, LeGall T, Oldfield C J, et al. Rational drug design via intrinsically disordered protein. Trends Biotechnol 2006; 24(10):435-42)

EWS-FLI1 binds RNA helicase A in vitro and in vivo. It is believed that protein-protein interactions of EWS-FLI1 may contribute to its oncogenic potential; therefore, novel proteins have been sought that directly interact with and functionally modulate EWS-FLI1. Recombinant EWS-FLI1 that is transcriptionally active (Uren A, Tcherkasskaya O, Toretsky J A. Recombinant EWS-FLI1 oncoprotein activates transcription. Biochemistry 2004; 43(42):13579-89) was used as a target for screening a commercial peptide phage display library. Twenty-eight novel peptides that differentially bind to EWS-FLI1 were identified from phage sequencing. A National Center for Biotechnology Information database search for human proteins homologous to these peptides identified a peptide that was homologous to aa 823-832 of the human RNA helicase A, (RHA, gene bank accession number A47363) (Toretsky J A, Erkizan V, Levenson A, et al. Oncoprotein EWS-FLI1 activity is enhanced by RNA helicase A. Cancer Res 2006; 66(11):5574-81).

While EWS-FLI1 is quite specific to ESFT cells, EWS and RHA are ubiquitously expressed. The region between EWS-FLI1 and RHA are targeted by molecular therapeutics that may have specificity; since EWS-FLI1 is expressed only in tumors and the interaction points with RHA may be unique. Therapeutic agents, namely, small molecule protein-protein interaction inhibitors, are provided herein to inhibit EWS-FLI1 function.

Most translocation-fusion protein sarcomas portend a poor prognosis, including ESFT. The chromosomal translocation t(11;22), leading to the unique and critical fusion protein EWS-FLI1, is a perfect cancer target. Many other sarcomas share similar translocation variants (Table 2. from Helman L J, Meltzer P. Mechanisms of sarcoma development. Nat Rev Cancer 2003; 3(9):685-94).

EWS-FLI1 translocations have been reported in solid pseudopapillaryneoplasms of the pancreas (Maitra A., et al., Detection of t(11;22)(q24;q12) translocation and EWS-FLI-1 fusion transcript in a case of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2000; 3:603-605), however the role of EWS-FLI1 in all solid pseudopapillary neoplasms remains to be resolved (Katharina Tiemann et al., Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas are associated with FLI-1 expression, but not with EWS/FLI-1 translocation).

EWS or FLI1 homologues are partners in translocations that occur in a wide range of sarcomas and leukemias. EWS, or its homologue TLS or FUS, is involved in chromosomal translocations of clear cell sarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, chondrosarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia. FLI1 belongs to the ets family of genes. The FLI1 homologue ERG is translocated in approximately 10% of Ewing's sarcomas and 20% of acute myeloid leukemias. This suggests that EWS-FLI1 can serve as model system that might impact upon a family of diseases (related by translocation partners) that affect a large number of patients (Uren A., Tcherkasskaya O. and Toretsky J. A. Recombinant EWS-FLI1 oncoprotein activates transcription. Biochemistry 43(42) 13579-89 (2004)).

ERG is also translocated in prostate cancer, where the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion suggests a distinct molecular subtype that may define risk for disease progression (F. Demichelis et al., TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion associated with lethal cancer in a watchful waiting cohort. Oncogene (2007)26, 4596-4599). Other diseases where translocations of EWS or FLI1 family members have been observed include prostate cancer, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, head & neck cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer (Janknecht, Ralf; Shin, Sook, and Oh, Sangphil, ETV1, 4 and 5: An Oncogenic Subfamily of ETS Transcription Factors. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1826 (1), 1-12 (2012)).

Therefore, the therapeutic agents of the preferred embodiments have potential for application in many other tumors. More broadly, some of the most difficult leukemias also have translocation-generated fusion proteins involving the mixed-lineage leukemia gene (MLL,11q23), and our work could serve as a paradigm for a very treatment-resistant group of cancers (Pui C H, Chessells J M, Camitta B, et al. Clinical heterogeneity in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with 11q23 rearrangements. Leukemia 2003; 17(4):700-6.). Thus embodiments include cancers where translocations have occurred. Translocation fusion genes are listed in TABLE 1.

TABLE 1 Ewing's sarcoma Translocation Genes Type of fusion gene t(11; 22)(q24; q12) EWSR1-FLI1 Transcription factor t(21; 22)(q22; q12) EWSR1-ERG Transcription factor t(7; 22)(p22; q12) EWSR1-ETV1 Transcription factor t(17; 22)(q21; q12) EWSR1-ETV4 Transcription factor t(2; 22)(q33; q12) EWSR1-FEV Transcription factor

A number of disorders include overexpression of an ETS gene, or an ETS gene fusion, that is, a gene translocation that includes an ETS gene. Examples of such ETS genes include FLI1, ERG, ETV1, and ETV4. Examples of fusion genes include EWS-FLI, TMPRSS2-ERG. TABLE 1A lists several cancers in which one or more ETS gene family members are overexpressed, and/or are rearranged.

TABLE 1A Tumors with ETS overexpression ETS member Cancer or gene fusion FLI1 ERG ETV1 ETV4 Prostate 41% 2% 25% 10% 6% Melanoma 34% 8% 8% 20% 5% Non-small-cell lung 33% 12% 8% 12% 5% carcinoma Uterine 25% 6% 9% 11% 6% Head and Neck 24% 6% 4% 7% 9% Ovarian 21% 7% 3% 10% 3% Glioblastoma 19% 7% 4% 7% 4% multiforme Acute myeloid 19% 8% 8% 4% 2% leukemia Breast 18% 5% 4% 5% 7% Indications

Certain compounds, compositions and methods provided herein can be used to treat a number of disorders such as a tumor or tumor cell comprising a translocation gene fusion, such as those listed in TABLE 1, Ewing's sarcoma, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, head & neck cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer. Some embodiments of the methods provided herein include a method for inhibiting proliferation of a cell. In some embodiments, the cell overexpresses an ETS gene. In some embodiments, the overexpressed ETS gene can include FLI1, ERG, ETV1, or ETV4. In some embodiments, the cell comprises an ETS fusion gene. In some embodiments, the ETS fusion gene can include an ETS gene such as FLI1, ERG, ETV1, and ETV4.

Examples Preparation of Compounds of Formula (I)

Compounds of Formula (I) were prepared according to the synthetic schemes presented herein. A ketone of Formula (II) (4.0 equiv.) was condensed with an isatin derivative of Formula (III) (1.0 equiv.) in the presence of diethylamine (10 drops) in methanol (5 mL) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated and purified using flash chromatography using dichloromethane/methanol as eluent to yield the pure product. Further purification was done by recrystallization with methanol. The substituents on the ketone and on the isatin derivative were selected so as to yield compounds of Formula (I) labeled as EXAMPLES 1-23 below. NMR Spectra were recorded for the compounds of EXAMPLES 1-26 thus obtained using a Varian-400 spectrometer for 1H (400 MHz). Chemical shifts are given in ppm downfield from tetramethylsilane as internal standard, and coupling constants (J-values) are in hertz (Hz).

The chiral separation was done by dissolving the isomeric mixtures in methanol/methylene chloride (4/1) mixture or neat methanol and the separation was performed by Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC) using a chiralpak IA column (250 mm×4.6 mm; particle size 5 μm) and eluted using a mixture of methanol/CO₂ (50/50). The solvent was removed under vacuum to obtain the pure enantiomers.

In some embodiments, compounds can be prepared according to the following synthesis schemes.

In these schemes, ketone (4.0 equiv.) and a catalytic amount of diethylamine (10 drops) are added to a solution of substituted isatin (1.0 equiv.) in methanol (5 mL). The mixture is stirred at room temperature until starting material (substituted isatin) disappears completely. The resulting solution is concentrated and applied to flash chromatography eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate to afford pure product in quantitative yield. Further purification is done by recrystallization with hexane/ethyl acetate.

An example compound synthesized by the above scheme includes: 4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl-2-oxoethyl)]-1,3-dihydroindol-2-one: white solid; mp 149-151° C.; ¹H NMR (DMSO, 400 MH 1 z) δ 10.93 (s, 1H), 7.86 (d, 2H, J=9.2 Hz), 7.26 (d, 1H, J=8.8 Hz), 6.98 (d, 2H, J=8.8 Hz), 6.86 (d, 1H, J=8.4 Hz), 6.39 (s, 1H), 4.31 (d, 1H, J=18.0 Hz), 3.80 (s, 3H), 3.61 (d, 1H, J=18.0 Hz).

In some embodiments, compounds can be prepared according to the following synthesis scheme.

In such embodiments, an appropriate acetophenone and 4,7-dichloroisatin can be condensed in the presence of a catalytic amount of diethylamine to prepare the desired compound in quantitative yield. An example synthesis includes the following:

4,7-Dichloroisotin (30.05 g, 139.1 mmol, 1.0 equiv, Alfa Aesar lot #10173559) and MeOH (450 mL, 15 vol) were charged to a 2-L, three-neck, round-bottom flask equipped with nitrogen line, overhead mechanical stirrer, and a temperature probe. Diethylamine (3.25 g, 0.32 equiv, Sigma-Aldrich lot # SHBD5313V) was added over 3 min (the slurry becomes dark red). A very slight increase in temperature (from 17.5° C. to 18.8° C.) was observed. 1-[4-(Dimethylamino)phenyl]ethanone 2 (44.3 g, 1.95 equiv, ArkPharm lot #0000197-130717000) was then added via a plastic funnel and the funnel was rinsed with MeOH (75 mL, 2.5 vol). A decrease in the reaction temperature to 15.1° C. was observed. Upon stirring for a few minutes, a dark red solution with a few undissolved particles was obtained. The solution was stirred at ambient temperature and periodically sampled for in-process control (IPC) by HPLC. After 23 h of reaction, additional diethylamine was added via syringe (1.42 g, 0.14 equiv) and the stirring continued at ambient temperature. After 40.5 h, a light slurry formed. Solid 2 was added in portions (54.1 g, 2.38 equiv, ArkPharm lot #0000197-130717000 and 3.2 g, 0.14 equiv, TCI lot # GKO1-BRAH) for a total of 4.47 equiv of acetophenone 2. After 88 h of reaction, IPC by HPLC showed less than 1% AUC of isatin 1 present in the reaction mixture. A heavy precipitate had formed. After 4.5 days, the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure (water bath <40° C.), then under high vacuum to afford approximately 84 g of a solid mixture, lot # BIO-W-22-11. The solid was dissolved in a mixture of dichloromethane (385 mL) and MeOH (140 mL) and adsorbed over 100 g of silica gel. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the dry product/silica mixture was loaded onto a column containing silica gel (1 kg, pre-packed with heptanes) for a flash chromatographic purification. Elution was started with 10% ethyl acetate in heptanes and a gradient up to 100% ethyl acetate was applied, and then switched to 10% methanol in ethyl acetate. Fractions of 500 mL and up to 2 L were collected. The product containing fractions, where product had started to precipitate, were combined and concentrated down to approximately 1 L. The resulting precipitate was filtered out, reslurried in EtOAc/MeOH (75:25 ratio, 200 mL), filtered, and washed with MeOH to afford a first crop of compound. The first filtrate was concentrated to a low volume, added MeOH to precipitate a second crop of compound. Filtrates from isolation of both crops were combined, concentrated to a low volume, taken up in 25 mL of MeOH, and the resulting solid was filtered to afford a third crop of compound. All three crops were dried under high vacuum at ambient temperature for a day and at 40° C. for four days. The total combined weight was 40.03 g, corresponding to 76% yield of compound (uncorrected by purity or solvent content). Solid is off-white (with a very pale yellow to peach shade.

Another example synthesis includes the following:

4,7-Dichloroisotin (4.26 g, 19.7 mmol, 1 equiv, Alfa Aesar lot #10173559) and MeOH (70 mL, 16.4 vol) were charged to a 250-mL, three-neck, round-bottom flask equipped with nitrogen line, overhead mechanical stirrer, and a temperature probe. Diethylamine (0.43 g, 0.30 equiv, Sigma-Aldrich lot # SHBD5313V) was added over 1 min via syringe (the slurry becomes dark red). 1-[4-(Methylamino)phenyl]ethanone 3 (11.4 g, 3.9 equiv, Sigma-Aldrich lot #01129HHV) was added in portions via a plastic funnel, over 15 min. The funnel was rinsed with MeOH (2×15 mL, 7.0 vol). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature (approximately 18-20° C.) and periodically sampled for in-process control (IPC) by HPLC. After 40 h of reaction, additional diethylamine was charged to the reaction via syringe (0.16 g, 0.11 equiv) and the stirring continued at ambient temperature. After 64 h, a light slurry formed. Additional diethylamine was charged to the reaction via syringe (0.13 g, 0.09 equiv) and the stirring continued at ambient temperature. After 92 h of reaction IPC by HPLC analysis showed 2.1% AUC of isatin 1 present in the reaction mixture. Additional diethylamine was charged to the reaction via syringe (0.07 g, 0.05 equiv) for a total of 0.55 equiv of base and the stirring continued at ambient temperature over the weekend. After a total of seven days, the reaction was concentrated under reduced pressure (water bath <40° C.), the solid residue was dissolved in a mixture of dichloromethane (450 mL) and MeOH (50 mL) at 30° C., and adsorbed over 20 g of silica gel. Purification was carried out in a Combiflash Companion™ XL system with a RediSep disposable flash 220 g silica gel column (catalog #69-2203-422). Elution of the residual starting material 3 was accomplished with dichloromethane (approximately 20 column vol, while the product TK-202 was eluted with 10% methanol in dichloromethane. The product containing fractions, where product had already started to precipitate, were combined in two different lots and partially concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting slurries were filtered and the solid cakes were washed with MeOH to afford two fractions that were dried under high vacuum at ambient temperature for 24 h, then 50° C. for 24 h, to afford lot # BIO-W-30-17 and lot # BIO-W-30-18. The filtrate from both crystallizations were combined and subjected to a second chromatographic purification (on a 40-g RediSep Gold column, catalog #69-2203-347) using a gradient from dichloromethane to 5% methanol in dichloromethane for elution. The product containing fractions (purity higher than 99% AUC by HPLC) were combined and the product was allowed to precipitate over 2 h. The solid was filtered off, washed with methanol, and dried under high vacuum for 24 h at 50° C. to afford lot # BIOW-30-19. A second set of fractions containing product of approximately 95% AUC purity by HPLC were combined, the solid was filtered off, re-dissolved in dichloromethane, and added 20% methanol to precipitate overnight. The precipitated TK-202 was filtered and washed with methanol, then dried under high vacuum for 24 h at 50° C. to afford lot # BIO-W-30-16. The total combined weight of 5.99 g corresponds to 83% yield of compound. Solid is off-white (with a very pale peach to tan shade).

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4-(methyl sulfonyl)phenyl)-2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 1): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.28 (s, 3H), 3.81 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.42 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.53 (s, 1H), 6.92 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.32 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 8.05 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 8.17 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 11.04 (s, 1H).

3-(2-(4-(Aziridin-1-yl)phenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 2)

To 4,7-dichloroindoline-2,3-dione (A) (300 mg, 1.39 mmol) in 15 mL of methanol were 1-(4-(aziridin-1-yl)phenyl)ethanone (B) (0.9 g, 5.5 mmol) and 10 drops of diethylamine (2). The reaction was stirred at 50° C. for 24 hours. The solvent was removed and the residue was purified with flash chromatography (0-5% Methanol/CH2Cl2) to get an off white solid. 3-(2-(4-(Aziridin-1-yl)phenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 2): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 2.16 (s, 4H), 3.64 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.32 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.41 (s, 1H), 6.89 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.05 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 7.30 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.80 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 10.95 (s, 1H).

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 3): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 1.21 (d, 6H, J=4 Hz), 2.95 (m, 1H), 3.69 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.39 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.45 (s, 1H), 6.90 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.29 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.38 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 7.85 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 10.98 (s, 1H).

4,7-Dichloro-3-(1-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)-1-oxopropan-2-yl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 4): ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 1.48 (d, 3H, J=8 Hz), 3.00 (s, 6H), 4.78 (m, 1H), 6.35 (s, 1H), 6.66 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 6.76 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.17 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.69 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 10.74 (s, 1H).

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 7)

To 4,7-dichloroindoline-2,3-dione (A) (300 mg, 1.39 mmol) in 15 mL of methanol were added 1-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)ethanone (B) (0.9 g, 5.5 mmol) and 10 drops of diethylamine (2). The reaction was stirred at 50° C. for 24 hours. The solvent was removed and the residue was purified with flash chromatography (0-5% Methanol/CH2Cl2) to get an off white solid. 4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 7): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 0.76 (m, 2H), 1.06 (m, 2H), 2.0 (m, 1H), 3.65 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.35 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.43 (s, 1H), 6.89 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.19 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 7.30 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.79 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 10.97 (s, 1H).

3-(2-(4-(1H-Pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 8): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.72 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.41 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.47 (s, 1H), 6.62 (d, 1H, J=4 Hz), 6.90 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.31 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.84, (d, 1H, J=4H), 7.99 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 8.06 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 8.66 (d, 1H, J=4 Hz), 10.98 (s, 1H).

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2-(4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phenyl)ethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 10)

To 4,7-dichloroindoline-2,3-dione (A) (12.5 g, 0.06 mol) in 800 mL of methanol were added 1-(4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phenyl)ethanone (B) (45 g, 0.24 mol) and 0.5 mL of diethylamine (2). The reaction was stirred at rt for 24 hours. The solvent was removed and the residue was purified with flash chromatography (0-5% Methanol/CH₂C₁₂) to get 13.5 g of brown solid. It was purified again with flash chromatography using ethyl acetate/hexane to give 11.5 g of an off white solid. Repeating the reaction at the same scale to give another 11.5 g of product. Two batches of product were combined and recrystallized from methanol to get 20.5 g as an off white solid. 4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2-(4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phenyl)ethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 10): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 1.96 (m, 4H), 3.30 (m, 4H), 3.65 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.29 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.34 (s, 1H), 6.53 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 6.88 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.28 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.72 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 10.97 (s, 1H). Chiral separation was performed on under the following conditions. Preparatory method utilized the following: a RegisCell column L: 250 mm, IS: 50 mm, particle size: 5 μm; mobile phase: methanol/CO₂, ratio: 35/65, detection wavelength: 254 nm, flow rate: 325 g/min, co-solvent flow rate 113.75 ml/min. Dissolved 19.72 g in 1000 ml of methanol, for a concentration of 0.020 g/ml. The injection volume was 25.00 ml for a total amount 0.500 g/injection. Yield was (+): 9.73 g, with optical rotation+247 at 20° C. and (−): 9.26 g.

4-(2-(4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)acetyl)benzenesulfonamide (EXAMPLE 11): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.78 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.41 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.51 (s, 1H), 6.90 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.31 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.56 (s, 2H), 7.91 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 8.11 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 10.98 (s, 1H).

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(3-fluoro-4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)phenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 12): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 1.91 (m, 4H), 3.46 (m, 4H), 3.57 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.27 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.36 (s, 1H), 6.71 (t, 1H, J=4 Hz, J=8 Hz), 7.29 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.46 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.61 (d, 1H, J=4 Hz), 7.64 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 11.01 (s, 1H).

3-(2-(4-(Azetidin-1-yl)phenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 13)

To 4,7-dichloroindoline-2,3-dione (A) (300 mg, 1.39 mmol) in 15 mL of methanol were added 1-(4-(azetidin-1-yl)phenyl)ethan-1-one (B) (972 mg, 5.5 mmol) and a few drops of diethylamine (2). The reaction was stirred at rt for 24 hours. The solvent was removed and the residue was purified with flash chromatography (0-5% Methanol/CH2Cl2) to get an off white solid. 3-(2-(4-(Azetidin-1-yl)phenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 13): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 2.32 (m, 2H), 3.51 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 3.95 (m, 4H), 4.30 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.35 (s, 1H), 6.36 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 6.87 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.28 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.73 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 10.89 (s, 1H).

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4-methoxycyclohexyl)-2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 14): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 1.24 (m, 4H), 1.92 (m, 2H), 2.08 (m, 2H), 2.32 (m, 1H), 3.06 (m, 1H), 3.26 (s, 3H), 3.33 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 3.69 (s, 1H), 3.70 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.91 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.20 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.61 (s, 1H).

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4-methoxybicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 15): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 1.59 (m, 12H), 3.16 (s, 3H), 3.22 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 3.58 (s, 1H), 4.14 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.90 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.23 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.67 (s, 1H).

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-(dimethylamino)bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 16): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 1.59 (m, 12H), 2.5 (s, 3H), 3.18 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 3.85 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.31 (s, 1H), 6.90 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.30 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 10.95 (s, 1H).

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-3-fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 17)

To 4,7-dichloroindoline-2,3-dione (A) (261 mg, 1.21 mmol) in 15 mL of methanol were 1-(4-cyclopropyl-3-fluorophenyl)ethanone (B) (280 mg, 1.57 mmol) and 10 drops of diethylamine (2). The reaction was stirred at 50° C. for 24 hours. The solvent was removed and the residue was purified with flash chromatography (0-5% Methanol/CH2Cl2) to get an off white solid. 4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-3-fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 17): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 0.83 (m, 2H), 1.08 (m, 2H), 2.11 (m, 1H), 3.68 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.34 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.43 (s, 1H), 6.90 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.11 (m, 1H), 7.30 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.60 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.68 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 10.96 (s, 1H). Chiral separation was performed by a method substantially similar to the method described above. LC screening was performed with: column: AD-H, 250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm, hexane/ethanol (65/35), 1.5 ml/min, injection volume: 10.0 pressure: 102.9 bar. Peak 1: retention time: 5.40 min, width: 0.171 min, area: 4502.21, area %: 50.08. Peak 2: retention time: 7.23 min, width: 0.239 min, area: 4488.43, area %: 49.92.

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-2-fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 18)

To 4,7-dichloroindoline-2,3-dione (A) (261 mg, 1.21 mmol) in 15 mL of methanol were 1-(4-cyclopropyl-2-fluorophenyl)ethanone (B) (280 mg, 1.57 mmol) and 10 drops of diethylamine (2). The reaction was stirred at 50° C. for 24 hours. The solvent was removed and the residue was purified with flash chromatography (0-5% Methanol/CH2Cl2) to get an off white solid. 4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-2-fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 18): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 0.82 (m, 2H), 1.07 (m, 2H), 2.01 (m, 1H), 3.66 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.26 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.44 (s, 1H), 6.91 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.01 (m, 2H), 7.31 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.57 (m, 1H), 10.96 (s, 1H). Chiral separation was performed by a method substantially similar to the method described above. LC screening was performed with: column: RegisCell, 250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm, hexane/IPA (80/20), 1.5 ml/min, injection volume: 2.0 μl, pressure: 51.5 bar. Peak 1: retention time: 5.16 min, width: 0.238 min, area: 3716.20, area %: 49.78. Peak 2: retention time: 6.49 min, width: 0.324 min, area: 3749.55, area %: 50.22.

4-Chloro-7-fluoro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 19): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.63 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 3.84 (s, 3H), 4.36 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.38 (s, 1H), 6.88 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.02 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 7.16 (m, 1H), 7.89 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 11.01 (s, 1H).

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4-morpholinophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 20): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.28 (m, 4H), 3.53 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 3.71 (m, 4H), 4.33 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.37 (s, 1H), 6.87 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 6.97 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 7.30 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.77 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 10.95 (s, 1H).

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 21): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.78 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.39 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.53 (s, 1H), 6.92 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.32 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.79 (d, 2H, J=4 Hz), 8.80 (d, 2H, J=4 Hz), 11.03 (s, 1H).

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2-(pyridin-3-yl)ethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 22): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.78 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.39 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.50 (s, 1H), 6.90 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.30 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.57 (m, 1H), 8.28 (d, 1H, J=4 Hz), 8.80 (d, 1H, J=4 Hz), 9.09 (s, 1H), 11.03 (s, 1H).

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 23): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.78 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.68 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.50 (s, 1H), 6.90 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.30 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.70 (d, 1H, J=4 Hz), 7.81 (d, 1H, J=4 Hz), 7.98 (m, 1H), 8.76 (s, 1H), 11.01 (s, 1H).

4-(2-(4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)acetyl)benzamide (EXAMPLE 24): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.74 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.42 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.49 (s, 1H), 6.92 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.31 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.57 (s, 1H), 7.95 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 7.97 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 8.10 (s, 1H), 11.01 (s, 1H).

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)indolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 25): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.60 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.30 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.39 (s, 1H), 6.82 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 6.90 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.30 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.80 (d, 2H, J=8 Hz), 10.45 (s, 1H), 10.93 (s, 1H).

4,7-dichloro-3-(2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one (EXAMPLE 26): off-white solid; ¹H NMR (DMSO-d6, 400 MHz) δ 3.70 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 4.37 (d, 1H, J=16 Hz), 6.48 (s, 1H), 6.91 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.30 (d, 1H, J=8 Hz), 7.56 (m, 1H), 7.96 (m, 1H), 8.01 (m, 1H), 11.01 (s, 1H).

Biological Activity of Compounds

Biological activities of certain compounds listed in TABLE 2 were determined.

TABLE 2 Compound (optical rotation) Structure Name 1 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-[2-(4- methoxyphenyl-2-oxoethyl)]-1,3- dihydroindol-2-one 2 (−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-[2-(4- methoxyphenyl-2-oxoethyl)]-1,3- dihydroindol-2-one 3 (+)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-[2-(4- methoxyphenyl-2-oxoethyl)]-1,3- dihydroindol-2-one 4 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4- (methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-2- oxoethyl)indolin-2-one 5 (−)

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-[2-[4- (methylamino)phenyl]-2-oxoethyl]- 1H-indol-2-one 6 (+)

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-[2-[4- (methylamino)phenyl]-2-oxoethyl]- 1H-indol-2-one 7 (+/−)

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-[2-[4- (methylamino)phenyl]-2-oxoethyl]- 1H-indol-2-one 8 (+/−)

3-(2-(4-(Aziridin-1-yl)phenyl)-2- oxoethyl)-4,7-dichloro-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 9 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4- isopropylphenyl)-2- oxoethyl)indolin-2-one 10 (+)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(1-(4- (dimethylamino)phenyl)-1- oxopropan-2-yl)-3-hydroxyindolin- 2-one 11 (−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(1-(4- (dimethylamino)phenyl)-1- oxopropan-2-yl)-3-hydroxyindolin- 2-one 12 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(1-(4- (dimethylamino)phenyl)-1- oxopropan-2-yl)-3-hydroxyindolin- 2-one 13 (+)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4- cyclopropylphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 14 (−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4- cyclopropylphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 15 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4- cyclopropylphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 16 (+/−)

3-(2-(4-(1H-Pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl)-2- oxoethyl)-4,7-dichloro-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 17 (+)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2- (4-(pyrrolidin-1- yl)phenyl)ethyl)indolin-2-one 18 (−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2- (4-(pyrrolidin-1- yl)phenyl)ethyl)indolin-2-one 19 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2- (4-(pyrrolidin-1- yl)phenyl)ethyl)indolin-2-one 20 (+/−)

4-(2-(4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-2- oxoindolin-3- yl)acetyl)benzenesulfonamide 21 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(3-fluoro-4- (pyrrolidin-1-yl)phenyl)-2- oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin-2-one 22 (+/−)

3-(2-(4-(Azetidin-1-yl)phenyl)-2- oxoethyl)-4,7-dichloro-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 23 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4- methoxycyclohexyl)-2- oxoethyl)indolin-2-one 24 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4- methoxybicyclo[2.2.2]octan-1-yl)-2- oxoethyl)indolin-2-one 25 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4- (dimethylamino)bicyclo[2.2.2]octan- 1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3-hydroxyindolin- 2-one 26 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-3- fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 27 (+/−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-2- fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 27 (−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-2- fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 27 (+)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-2- fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 28 (+/−)

4-Chloro-7-fluoro-3-hydroxy-3-(2- (4-methoxyphenyl)-2- oxoethyl)indolin-2-one 29 (+/−)

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4- moprholinophenyl)-2- oxoethyl)indolin-2-one 30 (+/−)

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2- (pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)indolin-2-one 31 (+/−)

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2- (pyridin-3-yl)ethyl)indolin-2-one 32 (+/−)

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-oxo-2- (pyridin-2-yl)ethyl)indolin-2-one 33 (+/−)

4-(2-(4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-2- oxoindolin-3-yl)acetyl)benzamide 34 (+/−)

4,7-dichloro-3-hydroxy-3-(2-(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)indolin- 2-one 35 (+/−)

4,7-dichloro-3-(2-(3,4- difluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 36 (−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-3- fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 37 (+)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-3- fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 38 (−)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-2- fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one 39 (+)

4,7-Dichloro-3-(2-(4-cyclopropyl-2- fluorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-3- hydroxyindolin-2-one Activities of Compounds

A modified tetrazolium salt assay using the CCK-8 kit (Sigma-Aldrich; St Louis, Mo.) was used to measure the inhibition of human tumor cell growth. Tumor cells (5000-7500 per well) were added to 96 well plates and allowed to attach for 4-5 hours. Compounds were serially diluted and added in triplicate at a concentration of 0.02 to 5 μM. DMSO was included as a vehicle control. Cells were incubated in the presence of compound for 3 days. After incubation CCK-8 reagent was added to each well and incubated for 2-4 hours. Viable cells were quantitated spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 450 nm. Percent viability of each sample was calculated from the A450 values as follows: % viability=(A450 nm sample/A450 nm DMSO-treated cells×100). The IC₅₀ was defined as the concentration that gave rise to 50% inhibition of cell viability. IC₅₀ activities of particular compounds were determined using SKES cells (Ewing Sarcoma cell line). Results are summaries in TABLE 3. IC₅₀ activities of particular compounds were determined using the cell lines listed in TABLE 4.

TABLE 3 Cmpd IC₅₀ 1 B 2 B 3 A 4 A 5 C 6 C 7 C 8 B 9 A 10 A 11 B 12 C 13 A 14 B 15 C 16 A 17 A 18 B 19 C 20 A 21 A 22 B 23 A 24 A 25 A 26 B 27 B 28 A 29 A 30 A 31 A 32 A 33 A 34 A 35 A 36 C 37 C 38 C 39 C A is IC₅₀ >5 μM; B is IC₅₀ <5 μM; and C is not determined.

TABLE 4 Cell Line Tumor Type ETS family rearrangement SKES ES EWS-FLI1 Type 2 A4573 ES EWS-FLI1 Type 3 TC71 ES EWS-FLI1 Type 1 LNCap Prostate rearranged ETV1 PC3 Prostate none MDA-MB-231 Breast increased ETV1 MCF7 Breast none BxPC3 Pancreas increased FLI1 PANC1 Pancreas none

Results for IC₅₀ of certain compounds are summarized as follows: Cmpd 1: SKES: C A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 2: SKES: B; A4573: B; TC71: B; LNCap: B; PC3: A; MDA-MB-231: B; MCF7: A; BxPC3: B; and PANC1: A. Cmpd 3: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 4: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 5: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 6: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 7: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 8: SKES: B; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 9: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 10: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 11: SKES: B; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 12: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 13: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 14: SKES: B; A4573: B; TC71: B; LNCap: B; PC3: A; MDA-MB-231: B; MCF7: A; BxPC3: B; and PANC1: A. Cmpd 15: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 16: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 17: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 18: SKES: B; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 19: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 20: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 21: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 22: SKES: B; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 23: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 24: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 25: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 26: SKES: B; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 27: SKES: B; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 28: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 29: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 30: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 31: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 32: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 33: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 34: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 35: SKES: A; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 36: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 37: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 38: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. Cmpd 39: SKES: C; A4573: C; TC71: C; LNCap: C; PC3: C; MDA-MB-231: C; MCF7: C; BxPC3: C; and PANC1: C. A is IC₅₀>5 μM; B is IC₅₀<5 μM; and C is not determined. In a xenograft study, A4573 tumor cells were implanted into mice. The mice were treated with certain compounds (oral bid). The mean volume of A4573 tumors was measured at various times. Relative to vehicle control, cmp 14 showed a 57% tumor growth inhibition (TGI) at 100 mg/kg bid, cmp 2 did not show TGI at 200 mg/kg bid. In a similar rat xenograft study, cmpd 2 showed an 87% TGI, and cmpd 14 showed a 53% TGI, each compared to the vehicle control.

Metabolic Activities of Certain Compounds

Metabolic activities of certain compounds were assayed with liver microsomes using a NADPH regenerating system and standard protocols. Briefly, compounds were incubated with isolated human, rat, dog, or mouse liver microsomes. Reactions were initiated in 96-well plates by addition of NADPH regenerating system (β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; isocitric acid; and isocitric dehydrogenase). Reactions were quenched with cold acrylonitrile at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 min, shaken and centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 20 min. Supernatants containing detected analyte compounds were analysed using LC/MS/MS with LC: Shimadzu LC 20-AD, MS: API4000, autosampler: CTC PAL; columns used included CHIRALPAK AS-RH 150*4.6 mm, 5 μm Part No: ASRHCD-KK008, and Ace 5 Phenyl, 50×2.1 mm, Part No. ACE-125-0502. Data analysis: T_(1/2) and CL were calculated use equations of first order kinetics: Ct=C₀*e^(−kt); C_(t)=(½)*C₀; t_(1/2)=In2/k=0.693/k; CL=V_(d)*k; and Vd=2 mL/mg. TABLES 5-8 summarise the results. In TABLES 5-8: R² is the correlation coefficient of the linear regression for the determination of kinetic constant; T_(1/2) is half life; NCF is no cofactor.

TABLE 5 Human liver microsome T_(1/2) Remaining Remaining Cmpd R² (min) (T = 60 min) (NCF = 60 min)  2 0.9771 20.2 12.7% 112.1%  3 0.7345 >145 77.1% 112.6% 18 0.9869 23.0 17.8% 99.4% 13 0.9268 103.4 68.5% 105.1% 14 0.9901 27.7 22.8% 104.5% 37 0.9659 85.6 62.8% 103.4% 36 0.9972 23.8 17.9% 104.0% 39 0.9910 79.7 60.4% 100.0% 38 0.9970 18.7 11.2% 99.5% Testosterone 0.9928 18.9 10.9% 88.1% Diclofenac 0.9855 7.3 0.3% 77.8% Propafenone 0.9315 6.8 0.2% 92.5% Liver wt: 22 g/kg relative liver weight for human

TABLE 6 Rat liver microsome T_(1/2) Remaining Remaining Cmpd R² (min) (T = 60 min) (NCF = 60 min)  2 0.9991 3.8 2.3% 92.7%  3 0.9989 7.1 2.7% 92.6% 18 0.9995 1.3 0.0% 88.5% 13 0.9885 3.6 0.2% 97.0% 14 0.9971 2.8 0.1% 97.6% 37 0.9968 3.5 0.3% 95.4% 36 0.9943 2.6 0.2% 97.8% 39 0.9849 3.0 0.2% 90.5% 38 0.9137 2.9 0.2% 94.7% Testosterone 1.0000 1.0 0.0% 87.3% Diclofenac 0.9985 13.3 4.1% 94.1% Propafenone 0.9926 2.0 0.0% 89.2% Liver wt: 40 g/kg relative liver weight for rat

TABLE 7 Mouse liver microsome T_(1/2) Remaining Remaining Cmpd R² (min) (T = 60 min) (NCF = 60 min)  2 0.9919 16.2 7.7% 90.2%  3 0.9902 7.4 0.4% 97.5% 18 0.9820 9.6 1.6% 88.4% 13 0.9780 26.6 19.6% 85.6% 14 0.9474 23.1 19.7% 102.0% 37 0.9871 20.7 12.8% 88.6% 36 0.9904 11.9 3.0% 89.6% 39 0.9917 15.4 6.4% 89.7% 38 0.9968 6.8 0.0% 93.0% Testosterone 0.9992 3.3 0.0% 83.6% Diclofenac 0.9887 39.2 32.6% 88.1% Propafenone 0.9891 2.0 0.0% 91.7% Liver wt: 88 g/kg relative liver weight for mouse

TABLE 8 Dog liver microsome T_(1/2) Remaining Remaining Cmpd R² (min) (T = 60 min) (NCF = 60 min)  2 0.9911 30.3 24.6% 100.6%  3 0.9977 21.3 14.0% 100.1% 18 0.9932 24.1 18.7% 92.9% 13 0.9935 8.4 0.7% 98.4% 14 0.9932 40.8 36.2% 97.1% 37 0.9855 9.1 1.0% 94.1% 36 0.9908 35.0 29.9% 93.1% 39 0.9857 2.4 0.1% 96.3% 38 0.9961 33.5 28.3% 97.6% Testosterone 0.9900 19.8 12.5% 91.0% Diclofenac 0.7395 >145 75.5% 89.6% Propafenone 0.9765 5.2 0.1% 89.6% Liver wt: 32 g/kg relative liver weight for dog Metabolic Stability of Certain Compounds

Half-life and clearance rates for certain compounds were assayed with human liver microsomes and human hepatocytes. Compounds were incubated in the presence of human liver microsomes (or human hepatocytes) in a 95% humidified incubator at 5% CO₂ to start the reactions. At each time point (0, 5, 15, 30, 60, 90 min) the reactions were stopped, vortexed and centrifuged. Supernatents were frozen until LC/MS/MS analysis. The results for human liver microsomes and human hepactocytes are summarized in TABLE 9, and TABLE 10, respectively.

TABLE 9 Cmpd % remaining Half-life (min) CL_(hep) (mL/min/kg)* 1 5 10.3 17.28 12 18 18 15.69 7 49 >45 ~11.54 *hepatic clearance where blood flow = 20 mL/min/kg

TABLE 10 Cmpd % remaining Half-life (min) CL_(hep) (mL/min/kg)* 1 48 226 8.7 12 56 >240 <8.7 7 100 >240 <8.7 *hepatic clearance where blood flow = 20 mL/min/kg

In another study, metabolism of compounds in hepatocytes from various species was examined. Hepatocytes were contacted with a compound, and the half-life of the compound was determined. The results are summarized in TABLE 11.

TABLE 11 Half life of cmpds (min) Cmpd 1 18 14 7-Ethoxycoumarin 7-Hydroxycoumarin Mouse 30.9 60.0 62.79 37.86 15.82 Rat 14.2 18.8 27.41 38.24 12.41 Dog 16.7 30.6 20.26 9.14 9.38 Human 45.5 63.6 75.87 45.29 20.78

Certain compounds were assayed with human liver microsomes (HLM) and human hepatocytes, and metabolites were detected. Briefly, metabolic stability was tested at one TA concentration (e.g., 1 μM) in duplicate. Loss of test article over time was evaluated in HLM (0.5 mg/mL) with and without NADPH at 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 45 min and hepatocytes (0.5×10⁶ cells/mL) at 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min. Positive control (diclofenac) and negative control (boiled HLM or heat inactivated hepatocytes) were included. Diclofenac was monitored at incubation times similar to test article while the negative control was measured at 0 and 45 min in HLM and 0 and 240 min in hepatocytes. Incubations were saved and used for metabolite identification using LC/MS/MS. The parent analyte/internal standard peak area ratios was converted to percentage drug remaining, using the time=0 peak area ratio values as 100%. The slope of the linear regression from log percentage remaining versus incubation time relationships (−k) was determined by linear regression fitting. From the individual log percentage remaining time profiles, the mean half-life and intrinsic clearance were reported. UHPLC-HRMS or UHPLC-MS/MS experiment was performed on the authentic test articles to check for possible common fragment ions. Selected microsomal samples from the 0, 10, 20, and 45 min aliquots, and the 0, 60, 120, and 240 min hepatocyte incubations aliquots were used for preliminary metabolite identification. The metabolites were summarized based on their mass spectrometry peak areas. TABLE 12, TABLE 13 and TABLE 14 summarise results for cmpds: 1, 12, and 7, respectively.

TABLE 12 [M + H] Retention Human liver Human Description (m/z) time (min) Structure microsomes heptocytes Parent 366.0292 2.52

d d Demethylation + Glucuronidation 528.0482 1.97

nd d Oxidation 382.0249 2.24

d nd Demethylation 352.0141 2.27

d d d: detected, nd: not detected

TABLE 13 [M + H] Retention Human liver Human Description (m/z) time (min) Structure microsomes heptocytes Parent 379.063  2.55

d d Demethylation + Oxidation 381.0406 2.13

d nd Di- demethylation 351.0305 2.25

d d Oxidation 395.0552 2.28

d nd d: detected, nd: not detected

TABLE 14 [M + H] Retention Human liver Human Description (m/z) time (min) Structure microsomes heptocytes Parent 365.0458 2.40

d d Oxidation 381.0402 2.21

d nd Demethylation 351.0301 2.25

d d d: detected, nd: not detected Pharmacokinetics of Certain Compounds

Certain pharmacokinetics parameters were determined for certain compounds in vivo for intravenous and oral administration. Briefly, compounds were formulated and administered using IV bolus, continuous IV infusion or oral administration. Blood was collected at multiple time points over 24 hours and processed into plasma. Plasma was analyses for parent using LC/MS/MS. Certain parameters for certain compounds were obtained in duplicate. TABLE 15 summarises results with Cmp 14 for a continuous infusion study in rat or dog. TABLE 16 summarises results for studies in BALB/c mice or Sprague Dawley rats.

TABLE 15 Dose (mg/kg/ T_(1/2) k_(elim) Vd CL MRT_(24-inf) Css_((3-24 h)) day) (h) (l/h) (mL/kg) (mL/h/kg) (h) (ng/mL) μM 24# 0.824 0.846 3457 2922 1.11 344 0.91 96# 1.00 0.703 4231 2976 1.73 1376 3.7 10{circumflex over ( )} 1.9 0.4 5643 2016 2.5 210 0.56 25{circumflex over ( )} 1.7 0.4 5663 2238 2.2 466 1.24 #rat; {circumflex over ( )}dog

TABLE 16 Dose (mg/kg), Cmax AUC T_(1/2) Tmax Cmpd route Vehicle (ng/mL) h * (ng/mL) % F (hr) (hr) 2 5, IV captisol 9381 1991 0.033 2 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol# 2243 3890 49 1 2 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol/water* 2835 4574 57 1 2 5, IV captisol 9381 1991 nd 0.033 2 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol^(#) 2243 3896 40 1.6 1 2 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol/water* 2835 4574 47 1.5 1 11 5, IV captisol 12362 2102 0.033 11 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol# 1673 3783 45 1 11 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol/water* 1168 3828 46 0.5 11 5, IV captisol 12362 2871 0.8 0.033 11 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol^(#) 1673 3787 34 1 1 11 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol/water* 1168 3832 34 0.8 0.5 5 5, IV captisol 12993 2324 0.033 5 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol# 2179 5192 56 1 5 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol/water* 1569 4354 47 1 5 5, IV captisol 12993 3207 1.7 0.033 5 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol^(#) 2179 4939 47 3.1 0.5 5 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol/water* 1569 4081 39 2.8 0.5 14 5, IV captisol 10891 4131 0.8 0.03 14 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol^(#) nd nd nd nd nd 14 25, po labrasol/tetraglycol/water* 2772 13152 64 3.1 1 14 10, IV captisol 39800 6059 1.43 0.03 14 100, po labrasol/tetraglycol 32999 146167 100 7.71 2 14 100, po PEG-400/tween 25967 92219 100 3.83 0 18 5, IV captisol 14343 3738 0.8 0.033 18 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol^(#) 3217 7497 50 1.4 1 18 20, po labrasol/tetraglycol/water* 6422 11029 74 0.9 1 #labrasol/tetraglycol: 9:1 *labrasol:tetraglycol:water is 72:8:20 nd: not determined Parameters determined in BALB/c mice or Sprague Dawley rats

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. To the extent publications and patents or patent applications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosure contained in the specification, the specification is intended to supersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning unless expressly so defined herein. It should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to include any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that the upper and lower limit, and each intervening value between the upper and lower limit of the range is encompassed within the embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this application, and variations thereof, especially in the appended claims, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing, the term ‘including’ should be read to mean ‘including, without limitation,’ ‘including but not limited to,’ or the like; the term ‘comprising’ as used herein is synonymous with ‘including,’ ‘containing,’ or ‘characterized by,’ and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps; the term ‘having’ should be interpreted as ‘having at least;’ the term ‘includes’ should be interpreted as ‘includes but is not limited to;’ the term ‘example’ is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; adjectives such as ‘known’, ‘normal’, ‘standard’, and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass known, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future; and use of terms like ‘preferably,’ ‘preferred,’ ‘desired,’ or ‘desirable,’ and words of similar meaning should not be understood as implying that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the invention, but instead as merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the invention. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction ‘and’ should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as ‘and/or’ unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction ‘or’ should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should be read as ‘and/or’ unless expressly stated otherwise.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. The indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

All numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term ‘about.’ Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of any claims in any application claiming priority to the present application, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number of significant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.

Furthermore, although the foregoing has been described in some detail by way of illustrations and examples for purposes of clarity and understanding, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications may be practiced. Therefore, the description and examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments and examples described herein, but rather to also cover all modification and alternatives coming with the true scope and spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for inhibiting proliferation of a cell, wherein the cell overexpresses an ETS gene or comprises an ETS fusion gene, comprising: contacting the cell with an effective amount of a compound having a structure of Formula (Ia):

or a stereoisomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or solvate thereof, wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and Cl; wherein R₇, R₈, R₁₀ and R₁₁ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and halogen; and wherein R₉ is C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ETS gene or the ETS fusion gene is selected from the group consisting of FLI1, ERG, ETV1, and ETV4.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cell is a cancer cell, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of Ewing's sarcoma, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, head cancer, neck cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the cell is a cancer cell, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of Ewing's sarcoma, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, head cancer, neck cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein R₉ is cyclopropyl.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein R₁ and R₄ are Cl, and R₂ and R₃ are H.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:


8. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:


9. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is:


10. A method of killing or inhibiting growth of a neoplastic cell, comprising: contacting the cell with an effective amount of a compound having a structure of Formula (Ia):

or a stereoisomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or solvate thereof, wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and; wherein R₇, R₈, R₁₀ and R₁₁ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and halogen; and wherein R₉ is C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein R₉ is cyclopropyl.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein R₁ and R₄ are Cl, and R₂ and R₃ are H.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:


14. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:


15. The method of claim 10, wherein the compound is:


16. The method of claim 10, wherein the cell is a cancer cell, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of Ewing's sarcoma, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, head cancer, neck cancer, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer. 